Kaitaia District Court has ruled in favour of the Tenancy Tribunal - over the status of motel residents

The Tribunal last year deemed 51 current and former tenancies at the Northerner motel, were boarding house tenancies - and not exempt from the Residential Tenancies Act.

The landlords claim they were providing emergency or transitional housing - but weren't getting Government funding for this purpose.

The Court's ruled a landlord isn't exempt from tenancy law, just because tenants are vulnerable or on the benefit.